Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table — Psalm 128:1-3
Once an iconic part of the life of the Christian household, the family table is rapidly disappearing from America culture. It has been replaced by the family fragmenting world of two-income families on fast food budgets, of glassy eyed children eating microwave meals in front of the television set, and of lifestyles that prioritize escapism and entertainment over the vibrant life of God’s first society — the family.
Author Melissa Good observes:
Today, less than half of American families eat dinner together, and when they do the meals last less than 20 minutes. Our lifestyles have changed from those less-complicated days. Thanks to the internet, cell phones, and palm pilots, business is conducted on an almost 24/7 basis. Outside activities for children have become almost unbearable in the demands made upon the family. It has become a race against time to fit it all in. Something has to give, and all too often it is the family dinner.
Another writer put it this way: “If there is anything that tells the story of the American family over the past 20 years, it’s the disappearance of dinnertime, a time when families used to set aside the demands of the moment to share their stories about the ups and downs of the day. It wasn’t always calm, and — depending on who was cooking — it wasn’t always good. But it was always there.”
And with the demise of the family table, we are witnessing the death of Christian family culture in America. Its time for a reformation.
This March, more than five hundred people came to San Antonio for part of a landmark event called The 200 Year Plan: A Practicum on Generational Faithfulness. The capstone of the event was a message entitled The Family Table. The thesis of the message was simple: An essential ingredient for rebuilding a biblical culture of family life, and promoting multi-generational faithfulness is a return to the family table.
The priority of mealtime to Christian culture is revealed in Holy Scripture where we discover that many of the most significant events in history occurred around the meal table. In fact, throughout the Holy Scriptures we see the table as a place of peace, of instruction, of discipleship, of fellowship, of ministry, and even of evangelism. In fact, the Lord uses the table and food as important pictures to communicate truths of vast importance about the Kingdom of Heaven, the love of God, and much more.
There must be a reformation aimed at recovering the full-scope and potential for discipleship of the family at mealtime. This means that dads and moms need to turn off the television set, cancel the umpteenth family-fragmenting activity, and begin to prioritize meaningful meal times with all members of the family present. It means rediscovering the art, the craftsmanship, and the beauty of family mealtime.
This is the message of The Family Table. This important message shares stories of how you can make mealtime deeply meaningful for your household. This encouraging message explores how the family table can be appreciated as one of God’s good gifts for training future men and women. Also explored is the toll taken on Christian womanhood because of the demise of family mealtime in America, as well as, the importance of feasting before the Lord as a means of family celebration and rejoicing.
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart — Acts 2: 46
The Family Table is available for the rest of this month to everyone who makes a donation of any amount to Vision Forum Ministries and our efforts to defend the Christian family. Click here for more information.